The Summer Creek volleyball team is searching for its first appearance in the Class 6A playoffs.

A strong start has them in position to find it this season.

The Bulldogs started 4-0 in District 21-6A by sweeping their first four opponents - Channelview, C.E. King, North Shore and rival Atascocita - sending them to a 22-4 record on the season.

“We’re very happy,” coach Tamika Newman said. “We know that we’re facing three very tough teams here at the end (of the first round), so we’re very happy with how we played the first four games.”

They did it without starters Dakota Jackson and Anota Adekunle.

Jackson, a senior right side, left the team to focus on academics and Adekunle is out with a knee injury.

Newman said Adekunle is expected to return soon.

The key is the Bulldogs’ remaining experience, which also helped them win the Longview and Aldine tournaments.

“We’ve got five seniors who’ve been together for a while, our two juniors, Anota and Reagan (Wright), have been on varsity since their freshman year, so they’re three-year players, and my setter (Caleigh Miller) has been setting for me for four years, so she understands exactly what I want,” Newman said.

Wright is leading the team in kills and scoring a lot of points off her serve.

Sophomore Courtney Bates replaced Jackson on the right side, giving them another strong server, junior Burgandi Griffin stepped in for Adekunle, and senior middle blocker Aiyana Bean stepped up her game.

Newman said Miller is the glue that holds it all together.

“She’s a really underrated setter,” Newman said. “She’s 5-6, but we get away with her blocking front row. She runs a really fast offense, so she makes all of our hitters look good. She knows where to put the ball.”

Panthers in pretty position

The Kingwood Park girls cross country team won the Dayton Bronco Invitational last Saturday in Dayton.

Eagles back at it

The Atascocita football team finally played another game last week after going three weeks without a result.

They beat Dekaney 14-6 without quarterback Daveon Boyd on Sept. 1, then had their game against Klein Oak on Sept. 10 cancelled by lightning in the third quarter before entering their off week in Week 4.

The hiatus gave them plenty of time to prepare for their District 21-6A opener with Kingwood.

Atascocita returns to action this week on the road against Channelview, with kickoff set for 7 p.m. Friday at Maddry Stadium.

Splendid in Splendora

Splendora rolled through the first three weeks behind a powerful running attack that improved each time out.

The Wildcats ran for 260 yards against Tarkington, 352 against Sterling and 442 against Dayton, giving them an average of 351 rushing yards per game and 7.4 yards per carry on 142 attempts.

Junior running back Evan Nichols also increased his production each week, going from rushing for 179 yards and two touchdowns in Week 1 to 224 and three in Week 2 and 344 and four in Week 3.